Banana Slug

Banana Slug

Geographical Range

Northwestern North America

Habitat

Forests, gardens

Scientific Name

Ariolimax columbianus

Conservation Status

Not listed by IUCN

As you can probably guess, the banana slug is named for its bright yellow color and large size. It makes its home among the leaf litter of the cool, moist forests of the Pacific Northwest, feeding on a variety of plants, mosses and fungi. It is the largest land slug in North America, growing up to 8 inches long.

Somewhere along the line, evolution must have cost this animal an arm and a leg. But it still has a foot! Slugs use their large muscular foot to glide along slimy trails of mucus that they secrete.

Like snails, slugs' eyes are located on the end of their head tentacles. In fact, slugs are cousins of snails, but kind of like "naked snails" that have not developed protective shells. Slugs have no problem finding mates. Each animal is both male and female at the same time, and all slugs are able to bear young.